Visit to Art of Shaving Store

[Steve_in_CT]

I was attending a conference in NYC on Wednesday, which meant taking a train into Grand Central Station. As I had a bit of time to kill, I wandered around a bit and discovered an Art of Shaving store there. I have never tried their products, so I stopped in to look around. The fellow in the store was very friendly and suggested that I take a sampler of their products to give them a try. The little sample pack consists of three unscented products: Pre-Shave Oil, Shave Cream, and Aftershave Balm. Yesterday I used all three; today I skipped the ASB.

I wanted to like the products, particularly since the lavender cream that I checked out in their shop seemed to be a very pleasant scent. But the short take on these products is that the oil and balm are too thick and the cream is too thin. That's not to say that you can't/won't get a good shave with their products, but I much prefer the Truefitt and Hill pre-shave oil, any number of shave creams (currently I'm using D.R. Harris Arlington, Castle Forbes Lavender and Crabtree & Evelyn Nomad), and an unscented Nivea moisturizer.

[jdscotch]

I think the AoS balm is very thick but it spreads over your face very easily (you only need a little) and it absorbs quickly and just seems to work well. I think the T&H (which I still think are great) are a little more liquid-y and don't absorb as readily so I feel them on my face for a little longer.

I like both the T&H and AoS (sandalwood) pre-shave oils. Yes, there AoS is thicker, but is that a bad thing necessarily. It take an extra second or two to rinse the residue off my hand, but so what. Especially in the winter, the extra viscosity of the oil might be more protective of the skin.

Personally, however, I do not like the AoS unscented line. It has this slight musty smell, especially the ASB and PSO.

[jdrum3]

Dude, if you get back to NYC, you have to skip the AOS and go straight to the source.....Pasteur Pharmacy!

[Steve_in_CT]

Dude, if you get back to NYC, you have to skip the AOS and go straight to the source.....Pasteur Pharmacy!
I have been there before, but didn't have the time on Wednesday. My meeting was only a couple of blocks from Grand Central.

[Go West Young Man]

AoS cream is too thin for you? Weird, that's the first time I've heard that about it! I can't get enough of their soaps and creams.

[Mr.RN]

I love the AOS lavender soap. Even though it was very expensive, I think that a little splurge now and then never hurt anyone.

[cluelessdude]

Love the look of AOS sandalwood cream.

[Le Buzz]

IMHO, their ASB is inferior to T&H, but that is not saying much. T&H makes a superb ASB. It's much less oily, but more moisturizing if that makes sense.

I went into an AOS store for the first time about 3 weeks ago at the Union Square store in SF, and it was a pleasant experience. You were lucky to walk away with a sample. I tried to talk my way into a sample pack of the new ocean kelp scent, but the sales girl kept pointing me towards their travel size cream. At $15 for a small little pump bottle, I passed on the offer.

Nevertheless, it is a very beautiful store, the decor and presentation is nice, and while Im not particularly a fanatic of AOS I'm glad they're around here in the U.S. to atleast bring some awareness to people that there is a much better way to shave than cartridges and canned foam.

[luvmysuper]

Plenty of top notch products out there for pre-shave oil and after shave balm (though I do not use either), but in my personal opinion, AOS soaps and creams are some of the best commercially available, let alone at a standard walk in the front door brick and mortar venue.

[Cuttingboard]

Dude, if you get back to NYC, you have to skip the AOS and go straight to the source.....Pasteur Pharmacy!

My thought exactly, the Grail of Shavedom!! IMHO...their soaps are better than their creams.

[DunEdinRanger]

Dude, if you get back to NYC, you have to skip the AOS and go straight to the source.....Pasteur Pharmacy!


+1

There is a Pasteur's at 34th between Madison & Park, a scant 10 minute walk from Grand Central Terminal.